U.S. consumers to pay 55% of tariff costs, Goldman Sachs says

Spread the love

U.S. consumers will end up paying the bulk of the cost for President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to a report from Goldman Sachs.

The report undercuts repeated claims from the White House that foreign nations will pay the costs of the new import duties.

Goldman Sachs economists said American consumers will pay 55% of tariff costs, U.S. businesses will pay 22% and foreign exporters will pay 18%.

Goldman Sachs economists said U.S. firms are expected to pass costs onto consumers in the coming months, according to media reports.

“At the moment, however, U.S. businesses are likely bearing a larger share of the costs because some tariffs have just gone into effect and it takes time to raise prices on consumers and negotiate lower import prices with foreign suppliers,” the Goldman Sachs note said.

The Trump administration has repeatedly said that foreign governments would pay the tariffs.

“The President and Administration’s position has always been clear: while Americans may face a transition period from tariffs upending a broken status quo that has put America Last, the cost of tariffs will ultimately be borne by foreign exporters,” White House Spokesman Kush Desai said. “Companies are already shifting and diversifying their supply chains in response to tariffs, including by onshoring production to the United States.”

The White also blamed high prices on former President Joe Biden.

“Americans can rest assured that the Administration will continue to deliver economic relief from Joe Biden’s inflation crisis while laying the groundwork for a long-term restoration of American Greatness,” Desai said

The White House has previously denied that tariffs would raise consumer prices or that American companies would bear the higher costs.

“The reality is the president has always maintained that Chinese producers will be absorbing the cost of these tariffs,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing in May. “The president is committed to ensuring that prices remain low for American consumers andhe maintains the position that foreign countries will absorb these tariffs.”

Trump has told businesses that he doesn’t want them to raise prices. He wants businesses to absorb the loss without passing on the higher prices to consumers.

Shortly after Walmart announced that it would raise prices throughout its stores in May, Trump told the world’s largest retailer to “eat it.”

Economists, businesses and some publicly traded companies have warned that tariffs could raise prices on a wide range of consumer products.

Trump has said he wants to use tariffs to restore manufacturing jobs lost to lower-wage countries in decades past, shift the tax burden away from U.S. families, and pay down the national debt.

A tariff is a tax on imported goods paid by the person or company that imports the goods. The importer can absorb the cost of the tariffs or try to pass the cost on to consumers through higher prices.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Des Moines school board chair ends U.S. Senate campaign amid superintendent controversy

Des Moines school board chair ends U.S. Senate campaign amid superintendent controversy

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square Des Moines, Iowa, school board chair Jackie Norris ended her campaign for U.S. Senate Thursday, citing her need to focus on the school system in...
Former national security advisor Bolton indicted by grand jury

Former national security advisor Bolton indicted by grand jury

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square President Donald Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton was indicted Thusday by a federal grand jury. A federal grand jury in the U.S. District...
Retail advocate: 'Empty storefronts' will result from Chicago mayor’s budget

Retail advocate: ‘Empty storefronts’ will result from Chicago mayor’s budget

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The mayor of Chicago is touting new taxes in his 2026 budget proposal, but business groups are...
Illinois quick hits: SNAP to cut Nov. 1 if shutdown continues; Guard-blocking order stays in place

Illinois quick hits: SNAP to cut Nov. 1 if shutdown continues; Guard-blocking order stays in place

By The Center SquareThe Center Square SNAP to cut Nov. 1 if shutdown continues If the federal government shutdown continues past Nov. 1, 1.9 million Illinoisans will lose food assistance....
Energy Dept’s Haustveit at Louisiana Summit: 'More reliable energy' needed

Energy Dept’s Haustveit at Louisiana Summit: ‘More reliable energy’ needed

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The U.S. will need more reliable energy sources than ever before and the Trump administration will deliver, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of...
Trump says U.S. won't survive without tariffs, businesses say they won't survive with them

Trump says U.S. won’t survive without tariffs, businesses say they won’t survive with them

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square People on both sides of a legal challenge to President Donald Trump's tariff authority warn that survival is on the line in the high-profile case...
Nonprofit in tariff challenge case hits back at Trump

Nonprofit in tariff challenge case hits back at Trump

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A nonprofit group challenging President Donald Trump's tariff authority in front of the U.S. Supreme Court said Thursday that Trump's criticism of the group was...
Hanover Park, Illinois, police officer arrested by immigration enforcement

Hanover Park, Illinois, police officer arrested by immigration enforcement

By Greg BishopThe Center Square A Hanover Park, Illinois, police officer has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for being in the country illegally. As part of a...
Florida sues California, Washington for licensing immigrants

Florida sues California, Washington for licensing immigrants

By David BeasleyThe Center Square The state of Florida has filed a complaint with the U.S. Supreme Court against the states of California and Washington, sayinga damage has been caused...
DOJ brings first ever Antifa terrorism charges in Texas ICE attack

DOJ brings first ever Antifa terrorism charges in Texas ICE attack

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following the designation of Antifa by President Donald Trump as a domestic terror organization, the FBI announced that terrorism charges have been brought against suspects...
Many agree with McMahon that government shutdown proves DoEd is unnecessary

Many agree with McMahon that government shutdown proves DoEd is unnecessary

By Tate MillerThe Center Square U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s statement that the now more than two-week long government shutdown reveals the U.S. Department of Education is unnecessary –...
Colorado aids federal workers as shutdown hits week three

Colorado aids federal workers as shutdown hits week three

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado is taking steps to assist its over 50,000 federal employees as the government shutdown enters its third week. While not all of those employees...
Democrats tank bipartisan bill to fund DOD in midst of government shutdown

Democrats tank bipartisan bill to fund DOD in midst of government shutdown

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In an act of defiance, Democratic senators blocked the House-passed full-year funding bill for the Department of Defense from advancing Thursday. The procedural vote on...
U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Trump over H-1B visa fee

U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Trump over H-1B visa fee

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the world's largest business federations, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday over its proposed $100,000...
Senate Republicans offer govt funding olive branch; Democrats refuse it

Senate Republicans offer govt funding olive branch; Democrats refuse it

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Democrats blocked Republicans’ bill to reopen the government for the tenth time Thursday – even after Republican leaders agreed to hold a vote on...